If you have just finished a renovation, extension or new build in London, you will know that the dust gets everywhere and ordinary cleaning barely touches it. A builders clean is the deep, specialist clean that takes a property from a working site to a finished, move-in condition. Here is exactly what it involves and what to expect.
A builders clean is the post-construction clean that removes the dust, debris and residue left behind once the tools are down. It is far more thorough than a domestic clean because building work leaves fine plaster dust, cement splashes, paint flecks, adhesive marks and protective film on almost every surface.
It is usually carried out in stages rather than as a single visit, and most contractors and developers treat it as a separate trade from general cleaning. The goal is simple: hand back a property that looks finished, not freshly built.
Most builders cleans in the UK follow a recognised three-stage process. Smaller jobs may combine stages, but on extensions, refurbishments and new builds the structure tends to hold.
The exact scope is agreed beforehand, but a thorough builders clean typically covers the whole property from ceiling to floor. The emphasis is on the fine dust that settles after sanding and plastering, which can keep reappearing for days if it is not removed properly.
A builders clean is not the same as waste clearance or snagging. Removing large quantities of rubble, skips, or leftover building materials is normally the contractor's responsibility, though small amounts of debris are often dealt with as part of the clean.
External works such as patios, driveways and render washing are separate jobs, as is any repair work. If a surface is damaged or a finish is faulty, that is a snag for the builder, not something a clean will resolve. It is worth confirming who is handling waste before the day so nothing is missed.
Pricing depends on the size of the property, how many stages are needed and the state it is left in. Many London providers quote per square metre or per day rather than a flat fee, with day rates commonly falling somewhere in the region of 150 to 250 pounds per cleaner, and final clean work often priced higher than rough clean work because of the detail involved.
Heavy paint or cement residue, multiple bathrooms, large amounts of glazing and tight access or limited parking can all push the price up. The honest answer is that a proper quote needs either a site visit or clear photos and a description of the works, so any figure given without those is only a rough guide.
A small flat or single-room refurbishment might take a day, while a full house or new build can take several days across the different stages. The amount of dust and residue left behind is usually the biggest factor.
Book the main clean once all dust-producing trades such as plastering, sanding and painting are finished, and the final sparkle clean for just before handover or moving in. Cleaning too early simply means doing it twice.
Most providers bring their own professional equipment and materials, but they will usually need access to water and electricity on site. It helps to confirm parking arrangements in advance, as restrictions in many London boroughs can affect timing.
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